An illo I made many months ago is now published on T•pot Journal 09 - Preserving Traditions.
I also did another option with significant adjustments then.
I also did another option with significant adjustments then.
However, the initial version was eventually selected.
My concept is to depict Red Dao girls as tiny fairies playing in their secret land. The outfits are based on their real-life ethnic group called Red Dao *pronounce as Yao* living in northern Việt Nam. Their traditional dress is black and dark blue clothes with red patterned turbans.
Because of Red Dao's interdependent relationship with nature, I juxtapose them with flowers and leaves. All the plants are inspired by the works of Anna Maria Sibylla. She is a scientific illustrator and considered to be a founder of entomology. I was impressed with her profile and did a small research on her works while studying Art History.
What I adore most is the way that she does not only depict detailed and realistic watercolor paintings in her books but she also brings out the sense of voluptuous shapes in the natural world.
With a circular composition, I hope to convey a more decorative fantasy illustration and to take advantage of that structure to embrace all my characters and plants in a guarded zone that nothing can break them apart.
thank you for viewing :")
